TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY

TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY:

Wernle Children’s Home, Inc.’s treatment philosophy is based upon the belief that all children and their families possess inherent strengths that provide the capacity to change maladaptive behavior. The treatment philosophy focuses on the resident’s ability to learn to live successfully outside the treatment environment – whether this is in a family system or independently in the community. Therefore, everything that occurs within our treatment environment is material for therapy. Treatment is approached from a “strengths-based” and “success-based” model. It is accepted within the Wernle treatment philosophy that the strengths and abilities that each and every child possesses can become their stepping-stone for enhanced self-esteem and mastery. As children gain success, their capacity to develop and mature in a healthy fashion improves dramatically.

Residential Treatment Units:

Treatment Program for Sexually Maladaptive Youth: (Mary E. Hill Unit)

Wernle’s treatment program for juveniles with sexually maladaptive behaviors is designed to treat males 13 to 21 years of age. The treatment program is located in the Mary E. Hill building and is structured to meet the treatment needs of this specific population. A higher staffing ratio is maintained on this unit due to the reactivity of these residents than on other less-restrictive residential units. The treatment unit is located in a securely secluded pastoral setting north of the main campus and utilizes a group/peer treatment model addressing anger management, self-esteem enhancement, drug and alcohol education, and social skills development. Psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and behavior modification therapies are utilized to address the treatment needs of these residents.

Staff Secured Unit: (Behnken Unit)

The Staff-Secured Treatment Unit is a 20-bed unit located in the Behnken Building for males between 12 to 21 years of age. The Unit is designed to provide a safe and secure environment for males in need of immediate stabilization. Youth placed on this unit may be physically aggressive, acutely psychiatrically disturbed, pose serious potential for self-harm or harming others, or pose a significant risk of going A.W.O.L. Admission is intended to be of shorter term than the other treatment units with the goal of 1 to 6 months duration. This length of stay may be extended on a case-by-case basis. Residents will then step-down to a less-restrictive treatment unit. Due to the acuity of the residents, a higher staffing ratio is maintained on this unit than less-restrictive units.

Open Residential: (PK West and PK East)

PK West:

PK West is a 10-bed open residential treatment unit for residents who are 6 to 13 years of age. Due to the high acuity factor of this age group, this unit maintains a higher staffing ratio than other residential units. Children on this unit, due to their age and developmental level, along with their significant behavioral issues and emotional reactivity require closer observation and supervision. PK West employs a “success-based” behavioral management system referred to as “Focus on the Stars”,
which provides immediate interventions and feedback. Since children at this developmental level have an undeveloped time sense, this is an essential approach to successful treatment.

PK East:

PK East is a 10-bed residential unit composed of youth 13 to 18 years of age. Many of these residents have been transitioned to this unit from other residential units. This unit is the least restrictive unit on campus outside of the Transitional Living Program. Children may transition to this unit from other residential units, or they may be directly admitted upon referral, depending on their current behavior and treatment needs.

TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM: (KOLSKY UNIT)

The Transitional Living Program provides independent living training and skill development to residents from the age of 16 to 21. These residents may be returning home to their family upon discharge, or moving from Wernle to living independently in the community when they have completed treatment. Residents receive training in daily independent living activities through instruction and experiential learning. They also continue to receive therapy while they are residents in this program. the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training they receive addresses:

Money Management
Budgeting
Cooking and Nutrition
Shopping and Purchasing
Household Maintenance

Educational opportunities are maintained while a resident of this program. These opportunities may range from being enrolled in the local public school system, pursuing a GED, or attending a college or vocational program after the resident has completed their education requirements. Along with other sources of financial support for post-high school education, Wernle has scholarship funds available to assist in meeting their financial obligations to further their education.

CLINICAL PROGRAM:

Wernle Children's Home, Inc.’s Clinical Program utilizes an Interdisciplinary Treatment Model. All areas of the treatment program – from the residential units, health services, recreation, clinical therapy, case management, quality assurance, school program, and pastoral services encompass the entirety of the Treatment Team. All residents are provided the following Clinical Services:

Individual Therapy
Group Therapy
Family Therapy
Case Management
Therapeutic Recreation Therapy
Activity-Oriented Recreation
Individual Assessment and Medication Management
Health Services and Physical Health Management
Education provided by Richmond Community Schools
Psychological Testing (as needed)

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